Old School Surfboard Fiberglass Artist in Hawaii

General Discussion
1

I am asking the forum to help me identify some of the “old school” surfboard fiberglass artist in Hawaii. The boards I’ve seen at Strong Current, Surf ‘n’ Sea and Tropical Blends blew me away. The recently posted boards shaped by Greg Griffin and glassed by Jack Reeves also impressed me. What I mean by old school are the abilities to tint, pigment, foam stain, acid splash, Volan glass, resin pin-lines and make clean cut lines. I really think these guys are living treasures and need to be identified, recognized and sought after. There are so many great boards out there but we have no idea who did the glasswork. We know the top shapers but the glassers are the unsung heroes that make these boards into masterpieces. Here some of the ones that come to mind for me. (I might not know the entire names but I’ll include a description to help identify them). There is a bunch on the Neighbor Islands that also need to be identified. Please add to the list or provide complete names where I am lacking:

Jack Reeves

Bill Barnfield

Peter (North Shore Oahu– does glass work for Brewer sometimes and charges $35 a foot)

Jay and John Richardson (Surfboards Makaha)

Horacio d’Seixaz

Ed Searfoss

2

I’ve experienced some good work through Otis Schaper who works out of a qounset hut up in Whitmore. Rather pricey but great work.

3

What about Boscoe Burns? Ronnie’s dad…

also there was a bunch in the 70’s that worked for the old Surfline shop that were pretty good too.

I thought John Crouch was considered pretty good by the Surfline boys till he went to prison…

You’re right glassing and sanding are the unspoken true blood and guts of the artform. Rarely credited and way underestimated for the talent they brought to the table.

4

I really gained an appreciation for their efforts after I started doing my own glasswork. So many times they are not give the credit due to them. They managed to do what they loved and raise their families. I know that in the past many of these master glasser got paid so little for their efforts also, these guys worked under very unsafe conditions. My hats off to these guys and I hope we can eventually compile a list that can recognize them by region.

Mahalo!

5

Someone did a tree somewhere (shapers tree?)

I think it was for shapers but glassers might be included

Maybe someone here knows how to find the URL for you to research…

6

Shaperstree.com has an incomplete list of shapers and glassers, I say incomplete because it’s an almost impossible list. Check there for a few names.

7

Howzit oneula, Check the site, it also has glassers,sanders etc. I added some names a few months back since I couldn’t believe some names that weren’t on the list.Aloha,Kokua